Students Celebrate International Womens Day

Year 12 Student Leaders at the Zonta Club IWD Breakfast

The school’s celebrations for International Women’s Day concluded on Friday and over the weekend with student leaders attending a number of IWD events to mark the occasion.

Year 11 Student Leaders accompanied School Principal Ms Refalo in attending the Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese International Women’s Day Breakfast held at St Luke’s Catholic College Marsden Park. This event was attended by Jack de Groot, CSPD Executive Director of Schools and Christine Howe OAM CSPD Deputy Executive Director of Schools and Director Learning, as well as representatives from a number of Catholic schools across the Diocese.

The students were able to listen to inspirational speeches from The Hon. Prue Car MP, Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning and Minister for Western Sydney; Nas Campanella, ABC's Disability Affairs Reporter; and Liz Scully, CSPD Director Communications & Engagement. These women shared stories highlighting the resilience and determination which has helped them achieve great things in their respective careers.

Year 12 Student Leaders represented Catherine McAuley at the Zonta Club of Sydney Hills Western Sydney IWD Breakfast. This event was held at the Novotel Parramatta and featured guest speaker Esther Adeyinka. Esther is a lawyer, Member of the Department of Home Affairs NSW Youth Reference Group and Multicultural NSW Advisory Board.

Alicia D., Leader of Ryan House, said Esther’s address was a highlight. “Esther focused on the importance of both of the IWD themes this year - ‘Invest in Her’ and ‘Inspire Inclusion’. She connected both themes to express the importance of investing not only in others but also in yourself in order to inspire inclusion in our world”, said Alica. ”She shed light on this by speaking about her own experience and reflecting on her journey from adolescents to her young adult years”.

Rihana B., Leader of Veritas House was impressed with the guest speaker’s desire to strive for higher things. “It was particularly exciting to hear about her personal achievements; owning two businesses, volunteering with marginalised youth, serving on State government youth councils and working in corporate law all at the age of 27! She proposed an astonishing yet realistic opportunity to take on the world as a woman and inspire others to do the same”.

A day earlier on Thursday, 7th March a number of Year 11 students, accompanied by Ms Refalo and Year 11 Leader of Wellbeing Ms Leah Morrison, attended the City of Parramatta’s IWD event at Parramatta Town Hall. Called ‘Invest In Western Sydney Women’, the event featured a distinguished panel of successful women in various fields, with the Director of the Centre for Western Sydney, Dr Rhonda Itaoui, leading the discussion.

The All About Women event which was held on Sunday, 10th March and attended by a small number of staff and students.

Finally, a small number of students accompanied Miss Reynolds, Ms Robson, Miss Raja and Miss Grow to the ‘All About Women’ event held on Sunday at the Sydney Opera House. This event gave students the opportunity to listen to a number of panel discussions examining issues such as the beauty industry, social media, the ‘girlboss’ and motherhood.